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UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria
The poster for UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateFebruary 17, 2024 (2024-02-17)
VenueHonda Center
CityAnaheim, California, United States
Attendance18,186[1]
Total gate$7,264,734[1]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2

UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 17, 2024, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States.[2]

Background

[edit]

The event marked the promotion's tenth visit to Anaheim and first since UFC 270 in January 2022.[2]

A UFC Featherweight Championship bout between current champion Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria headlined the event.[3] This bout was originally expected to headline UFC 297 one month prior but was pushed back after Volkanovski was pulled to face UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.[4][5]

A light heavyweight bout between Zhang Mingyang and Brendson Ribeiro was originally scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Gutiérrez.[6] However, the bout was postponed due to the event's change of location and fighters facing visa issues and it was rescheduled to take place this event.[7][8]

A middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes welterweight winner) Robert Whittaker and former title challenger Paulo Costa took place at the event.[9] The pair was previously expected to headline UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum in April 2021, but Costa withdrew due to illness.[10] They were also expected to meet at UFC 284 in February 2023, but Costa disputed the official announcement by the promotion indicating he had never signed a contract and the fight would not take place.[11][12][13]

A welterweight bout between Ian Machado Garry and Geoff Neal took place at the event.[14] They were previously booked for UFC 292 in August 2023, but Neal withdrew due to undisclosed health reasons.[15] They were also scheduled for UFC 299 but were moved to this event for unknown reasons.[16]

A welterweight bout between Yusaku Kinoshita and Danny Barlow was scheduled for the event.[17] However, Kinoshita was removed from event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Josh Quinlan.[18]

A heavyweight bout between Tai Tuivasa and Marcin Tybura was scheduled for this event.[19] However, the bout was moved to headline at UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura on March 16.[20]

A women's strawweight bout between former UFC Women's Strawweight Championship challenger Amanda Lemos and The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia strawweight winner Tatiana Suarez was scheduled for the event.[21] However, Suarez withdrew from the event due to injury and was replaced by Mackenzie Dern.[22]

Road to UFC Season 1 bantamweight winner Rinya Nakamura was scheduled to face Brady Hiestand in a bantamweight bout.[23] However, Hiestand pulled out due to injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Carlos Vera, who had previously competed on Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter the year prior.[24]

A middleweight bout between former LFA Middleweight Champion Anthony Hernandez and Ikram Aliskerov was expected to take place at the event.[25] However, Aliskerov withdrew due to compilations related to an illness and was replaced by Roman Kopylov.[26] The pair was originally expected to take place at UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 the year prior after Kopylov served as a replacement to Hernandez's original opponent Chris Curtis, but Hernandez pulled out of the event and the bout never materialized.[27][28]

Tresean Gore was expected to face A.J. Dobson in a middleweight bout at the event.[29] However on February 7, Gore pulled out due to a shoulder injury and the bout was scrapped.[30][31]

A heavyweight bout between Justin Tafa and Marcos Rogério de Lima was expected to take place at the event.[32] However, Tafa withdrew the day before the event due to injury.[33] He was replaced by his brother Junior Tafa.[34]

During the event's broadcast, former PRIDE Middleweight Champion and 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Champion (also a former UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger) Wanderlei Silva was announced as the next "pioneer wing" UFC Hall of Fame inductee during June's International Fight Week festivities in Las Vegas.[35]

Results

[edit]
Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Featherweight Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski (c) KO (punch) 2 3:32 [a]
Middleweight Robert Whittaker def. Paulo Costa Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Welterweight Ian Machado Garry def. Geoff Neal Decision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 30–27) 3 5:00
Bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili def. Henry Cejudo Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Middleweight Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Kopylov Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 3:23
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Women's Strawweight Amanda Lemos def. Mackenzie Dern Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Heavyweight Marcos Rogério de Lima def. Junior Tafa TKO (leg kick and punches) 2 1:14
Bantamweight Rinya Nakamura def. Carlos Vera Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Light Heavyweight Zhang Mingyang def. Brendson Ribeiro KO (punches) 1 1:41
Early preliminary card (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass)
Welterweight Danny Barlow def. Josh Quinlan TKO (punches) 3 1:18
Welterweight Oban Elliott def. Val Woodburn Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Women's Flyweight Miranda Maverick def. Andrea Lee Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
  1. ^ For the UFC Featherweight Championship.

[36]

Bonus awards

[edit]

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[37]

  • Fight of the Night: Amanda Lemos vs. Mackenzie Dern
  • Performance of the Night: Ilia Topuria, Anthony Hernandez, and Zhang Mingyang

Reported payout

[edit]

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as released by the California State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses.[38]

  • Ilia Topuria: $350,000 (no win bonus) def. Alexander Volkanovski: $750,000
  • Robert Whittaker: $400,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus) def. Paulo Costa: $250,000
  • Ian Machado Garry: $110,000 (includes $55,000 win bonus) def. Geoff Neal: $108,000
  • Merab Dvalishvili: $210,000 (includes $105,000 win bonus) def. Henry Cejudo: $150,000
  • Anthony Hernandez: $132,000 (includes $66,000 win bonus) def. Roman Kopylov: $80,000
  • Amanda Lemos: $160,000 (includes $80,000 win bonus) def. Mackenzie Dern: $200,000
  • Marcos Rogério de Lima: $200,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus) def. Junior Tafa: $23,000
  • Rinya Nakamura: $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus) def. Carlos Vera: $12,000
  • Zhang Mingyang: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Brendson Ribeiro: $10,000
  • Danny Barlow: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Josh Quinlan: $12,000
  • Oban Elliott: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Val Woodburn: $15,000
  • Miranda Maverick: $150,000 (includes $75,000 win bonus) def. Andrea Lee: $70,000

Fight night weights

[edit]

The following is the official weigh-in weights compared to the fight night weights reported by the California State Athletic Commission.[39]

  • Alexander Volkanovski: 145 to 166.2 pounds (21.2 lbs) 15%
  • Ilia Topuria: 144.5 to 167.2 pounds (22.7 lbs), 16%
  • Paulo Costa: 185.5 to 215.2 pounds (29.7 lbs), 16%
  • Robert Whittaker: 185.5 to 207.6 pounds (22.1 lbs), 12%
  • Ian Machado Garry: 170.5 to 180.6 pounds (10.1 lbs), 6%
  • Geoff Neal: 170.5 to 200.8 pounds (30.3 lbs), 18%
  • Henry Cejudo: 135 to 150.6 pounds (15.6 lbs), 12%
  • Merab Dvalishvili: 135 to 156.8 pounds (21.8), 16%
  • Roman Kopylov: 185 to 194 pounds (9 lbs), 5%
  • Anthony Hernandez: 185.5 to 203.6 pounds (18.1 lbs), 10%
  • Mackenzie Dern: 116 to 127 pounds (11 lbs), 9%
  • Amanda Lemos: 115.5 to 123.8 pounds (8.3 lbs), 7%
  • Junior Tafa: 249 to 247 pounds (-2 lbs), -1%
  • Marcos Rogerio de Lima: 261.5 to 273.4 pounds (11.9 lbs), 5%
  • Carlos Vera: 135.5 to 158.6 pounds (23.1 lbs), 17%
  • Rinya Nakamura: 135.5 to 147.2 (11.8 lbs), 9%
  • Brendson Ribeiro: 205.5 to 219.6 pounds (14.1 lbs) 7%
  • Zhang Minyang: 204.5 to 230.2 pounds (25.7 lbs), 13%
  • Danny Barlow: 171 to 197.8 pounds (26.8 lbs), 16%
  • Josh Quinland: 169 to 187.8 pounds (18.8), 11%
  • Val Woodburn: 169.5 to 184 pounds (14.5 lbs), 9%
  • Oban Elliott: 170.5 to 185.2 pounds (14.7 lbs), 9%
  • Miranda Maverick: 126 to 135.8 pounds (9.8 lbs), 8%
  • Andrea Lee: 125.5 to 136.2 pounds (10.7 lbs), 9%

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

UFC 298

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria was a event produced by the (UFC) on February 17, 2024, at the in , . The event marked the promotion's tenth visit to the and was headlined by a UFC Championship bout between defending champion and undefeated challenger . Topuria defeated Volkanovski via with punches at 3:32 of the second round, securing his first UFC title and extending his unbeaten streak to 15 fights while handing Volkanovski his first loss at featherweight. The co-main event pitted former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker against in a non-title bout, with Whittaker emerging victorious by (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) after three rounds of striking exchanges. On the main card, contenders and former two-division champion clashed, resulting in a win for Dvalishvili (29-28 across all scorecards), bolstering his case for a title shot. In action, outpointed via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), marking Garry's fourth consecutive UFC victory. Preliminary bouts featured several standout performances, including Anthony Hernandez's first-round submission of in the middleweight division and Roman Kopylov's second-round knockout of Jake Brundage at middleweight. In a strawweight clash, defeated by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in a grueling three-round fight. UFC officials awarded Performance of the Night bonuses to Topuria, Hernandez, and Zhang Mingyang, while Lemos and Dern shared Fight of the Night honors, each earning $50,000. The event drew a record-breaking of 18,186 fans and generated a live gate of $7,264,734, the highest in history and for any UFC event in .

Background

Announcement and scheduling

UFC 298 was first officially announced on November 6, 2023, when UFC CEO revealed via social media that featherweight champion would defend his title against in the main event, scheduled for February 2024 as part of the promotion's early-year pay-per-view lineup. Two days later, on November 8, 2023, the UFC confirmed the exact date as February 17, 2024, solidifying the event's placement in the numbered series following in January. On November 23, 2023, the UFC disclosed the venue as the in , marking the promotion's return to the arena after hosting in January 2022. This selection aligned with the UFC's strategy to revisit for a high-profile title bout, leveraging the venue's history of successful events including multiple pay-per-views since its debut UFC card in 2006. The fight card began to take shape with additional high-stakes matchups in the ensuing months. On December 10, 2023, a clash between and former two-division champion was added, positioning it as a pivotal eliminator in the division. Later, on December 21, 2023, announced the co-main event featuring former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker against , enhancing the card's appeal with a striker-heavy showdown. Subsequent announcements throughout January 2024 rounded out the undercard, including bouts like vs. and vs. , building a 12-fight lineup focused on title implications and rising contenders.

Buildup to the main event

Alexander Volkanovski entered UFC 298 as the UFC featherweight champion, having made five successful title defenses since winning the belt in December 2019. His reign included victories over Max Holloway (twice), Brian Ortega, José Aldo, and Yair Rodriguez, establishing him as one of the division's most dominant figures. However, Volkanovski's preparation was overshadowed by a first-round knockout loss to Islam Makhachev in a lightweight title challenge at UFC 294 on October 21, 2023, which raised significant concerns about his durability and recovery from the head trauma. Medical experts and analysts noted potential lingering effects from the knockout, prompting questions about whether Volkanovski's chin could withstand another high-stakes test just four months later. Challenging for the title was Ilia Topuria, an undefeated prospect with a professional record of 14-0, including a perfect 6-0 mark in the UFC. Topuria had risen rapidly through the ranks with highlight-reel finishes, notably a second-round of at UFC Fight Night 204 in March 2022 and a third-round submission of at in May 2023. These performances, combined with his wrestling base and striking power, positioned the Georgian-Spanish fighter as a formidable unbeaten contender eager to dethrone the veteran champion and claim the featherweight crown in his first title bout. The buildup intensified during pre-fight media events, where Topuria's brash confidence and dominated proceedings, including at the UFC 298 on February 15, 2024. Topuria repeatedly called an "old man" and predicted a victory, while responded with calm resilience, emphasizing his experience and dismissing the provocations with humor, such as yawning during exchanges. This contrast highlighted the generational clash: Topuria's youthful aggression versus 's seasoned poise. The ceremonial weigh-ins on February 16, 2024, culminated in a tense staredown between the two, marked by intense eye contact but no physical contact, further building anticipation for the . Betting markets reflected Volkanovski's favored status entering the event, with opening odds listing him at -175 and Topuria at +140 across major sportsbooks. As the fight week progressed, the lines tightened slightly due to public interest in Topuria's momentum, but Volkanovski remained the clear favorite, underscoring the perceived gap in experience despite the challenger's perfect record.

Event Information

Venue and attendance

UFC 298 was hosted at the Honda Center, an indoor arena in Anaheim, California, with a seating capacity of approximately 18,000 for mixed martial arts configurations. The event drew a near-capacity crowd of 18,186 attendees, marking the highest attendance for a UFC event at the venue. This turnout generated a live gate of $7,264,734, the largest in Honda Center history and the highest for any UFC event in Anaheim since at least 2011, surpassing previous marks like UFC 270's $5.29 million in 2022 and earlier cards such as UFC 214's $2.45 million in 2017. Event operations emphasized robust security measures and enhanced fan experiences, including premium seating packages with access to weigh-ins and fighter meet-and-greets. Walkout music added to the atmosphere, with featherweight champion entering to "Down Under" by and challenger to "Hells Bells" by followed by "Cancion del Mariachi" by . No significant disruptions were reported during the live proceedings, contributing to a smooth execution for the sold-out audience.

Broadcasting and production

UFC 298 was broadcast in the United States with the early preliminary card airing at 6 p.m. ET on and , followed by the preliminary card at 8 p.m. ET on , , , and SiriusXM Fight Nation channel 156, and the main card at 10 p.m. ET exclusively on for $79.99. Internationally, the event was distributed through , providing live coverage of the prelims and access to the main card in select regions outside the U.S., ensuring global accessibility for fans via the UFC's digital subscription service. The English-language commentary team for the broadcast consisted of play-by-play announcer , alongside color commentators and , who filled in for ; additional analysis was provided by from the desk. Production elements included the standard UFC configuration at the , featuring the organization's iconic black and gold branding around the and canvas. Enhanced captured the action with multiple angles, including overhead and corner shots, while post-fight interviews with victorious fighters were conducted ringside inside the by , allowing immediate reactions from the competitors.

Fight Results

Main card results

In the main event, defeated via knockout (right hand) at 3:32 of the second round to win the UFC championship. Topuria, entering as the undefeated challenger, absorbed pressure from the champion in the opening round, where Volkanovski utilized his footwork and leg kicks to control range and land crisp combinations. As Volkanovski advanced aggressively early in the second, Topuria timed a counter right hand that dropped the Australian, prompting referee Jason Herzog to halt the contest as Volkanovski lay motionless on the canvas. Robert Whittaker outpointed via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) in the co-main event. Costa opened strongly with a highlight-reel wheel kick that staggered Whittaker midway through the first round, but Whittaker recovered and dictated the pace with higher-volume striking in the clinch and at distance over the final two rounds. The former champion's technical and defense proved decisive, as Costa's power shots landed sporadically but lacked the consistency to sway the judges. Merab Dvalishvili earned a victory (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over in the bout. Cejudo started sharply with precise counters and a takedown in the first round, but Dvalishvili's unyielding forward pressure and chain wrestling took over, as he reversed positions and ground down the former champion with constant movement across all three rounds. By the third frame, Cejudo appeared fatigued, allowing Dvalishvili to dominate the grappling exchanges and secure top position late. Ian Machado Garry defeated Geoff Neal via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) in the welterweight matchup. Garry circled effectively to avoid Neal's power, using jabs and low kicks to build volume while landing knees in the clinch during the first two rounds. Neal closed distance with heavy hooks and elbows in spurts, particularly along the fence, but Garry's superior accuracy and footwork—outlanding Neal 80-57 in total strikes—carried him to the win in a tactical affair. Amanda Lemos won a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) against Mackenzie Dern in the women's strawweight opener. Lemos targeted Dern's lead leg with vicious kicks early, compromising her mobility in the first round before transitioning to ground strikes that opened cuts. Dern rallied with submission attempts from the bottom in the second, but Lemos reversed and unleashed elbows, maintaining top control; the Brazilian's striking edge persisted into the third despite Dern's resilience.

Preliminary card results

The preliminary card of UFC 298 featured four bouts broadcast on , showcasing a mix of established contenders and rising prospects in various weight classes. In the bout headlining the prelims, submitted via arm-triangle choke at 2:34 of the first round. Hernandez quickly closed the distance, secured a takedown, and transitioned to mount before locking in the choke, forcing the tap from the Georgian grappler and earning a Performance of the Night bonus for his dominant showing. Roman Kopylov knocked out Jake Brundage with punches at 4:48 of the second round in middleweight action. Kopylov used precise striking to drop Brundage with a left hook midway through the round, then swarmed with ground-and-pound to prompt the stoppage, also securing a Performance of the Night award and extending his UFC win streak to four. Miranda Maverick outgrappled Andrea Lee to secure a unanimous decision in their women's flyweight matchup (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). The 27-year-old Maverick, now 12-5, dominated with takedowns and ground control across all three rounds, stifling Lee's striking output and advancing her position in the division as a tenacious grappler with upset potential against higher-ranked foes. In the bantamweight bout, Japan's Rinya Nakamura extended his perfect professional record to 9-0 with a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Vera (30-27 on all three judges' scorecards). Nakamura controlled the grappling exchanges, repeatedly defending Vera's submission attempts including leg locks while landing effective strikes from top position, though the fight drew some crowd boos for its lack of finishes; the 28-year-old judo black belt demonstrated his wrestling pedigree as a promising 135-pound contender.

Early preliminary card results

The early preliminary card for UFC 298, broadcast on ESPN+ and , consisted of four bouts in the , , , and other divisions, featuring two UFC debuts and a last-minute opponent change that added intrigue to the matchup. Opening the card, Chinese Zhang Mingyang made a striking UFC debut by knocking out Brazil's Brendson Ribeiro with punches at 1:41 of the first round. Ribeiro pressed forward aggressively but absorbed heavy counterstrikes, allowing the undefeated Zhang (17-6 MMA) to land a decisive combination that dropped his opponent for the referee stoppage, highlighting the 28-year-old's power and poise as an emerging talent in the division. In the welterweight bout, Oban Elliott made a successful UFC debut against Val Woodburn. Woodburn rocked Elliott early with a knockdown in the first round, but Elliott recovered, using superior and striking volume to control the remainder of the bout. He secured a victory with scores of 30-27 across all three judges, marking a strong introduction for the Welsh fighter. The heavyweight bout followed, pitting veteran against Junior Tafa, who stepped in on one-day's notice to replace his injured brother . De Lima methodically targeted Tafa's lead leg with devastating calf kicks throughout the first round, visibly impairing his mobility and setting up the finish. In the second round, Tafa crumbled under continued leg attacks, allowing de Lima to transition to ground-and-pound punches that prompted referee to stop the fight at 1:14 via TKO. This victory improved de Lima's UFC record to 6-4. Closing out the early prelims, Danny Barlow impressed in his UFC debut opposite Josh Quinlan at . The fight was competitive through two rounds, with both exchanging strikes, but Barlow's pressure paid off in the third as he dropped Quinlan multiple times before unleashing a flurry of punches on the ground. Referee Jason Herzog intervened at 1:18 to award Barlow the TKO win, giving the newcomer a 1-0 start in the promotion.

Post-fight

Bonus awards

The UFC awarded five post-fight bonuses at UFC 298, each valued at $50,000, recognizing outstanding performances during the event held on February 17, 2024. Fight of the Night went to the women's strawweight bout between and , praised for its intense grappling exchanges and competitive back-and-forth action over three rounds, with Lemos securing a victory. Performance of the Night bonuses were given to three fighters: for his second-round of featherweight champion in the main event, marking a title-changing finish via a precise right hand; for his first-round submission of in the division using a rear-naked choke; and Zhang Mingyang for his quick first-round of Brendson Ribeiro in the light heavyweight early prelims, showcasing explosive striking power. These awards were announced by UFC CEO Dana White during the post-fight press conference on February 18, 2024, highlighting the event's highlight-reel moments across multiple weight classes.

Reported payouts

The reported payouts for UFC 298, as disclosed by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), revealed the guaranteed base salaries and win bonuses for fighters on the card, providing transparency into their earnings from the event. In the main event, received a base pay of $750,000 but did not earn a win bonus following his loss to . Topuria's total payout was $350,000, encompassing his base pay with no separate win bonus reported in the filings despite his victory. For the co-main event, Robert Whittaker earned a total of $400,000, consisting of a $300,000 base pay plus a $100,000 win bonus for defeating . Costa's payout was a flat $250,000 with no win bonus as the loser. Among other notable fighters, was guaranteed $150,000 for his bout, while received $210,000 total, including his base pay and win bonus after his victory over Cejudo. Overall, the CSAC filings indicated that 13 fighters on the card secured six-figure purses, underscoring the event's financial draw for top talent. These figures represent guaranteed minimums and do not include additional performance or fight of the night bonuses awarded separately.

Aftermath and impact

Following his loss in the main event, former champion received a 45-day suspension with 30 days of no contact due to the stoppage, contributing to a several-month layoff as he focused on recovery from the impact and prior concerns. later stated he planned to rest his head before returning, emphasizing the need for caution after two knockouts in quick succession. Ilia Topuria's victory established him as the first UFC champion from , marking a historic milestone for Spanish MMA and immediately elevating discussions around his first title defense. Promoters and analysts quickly pointed to as the prime candidate for the next challenger, given Holloway's stature in and Topuria's post-fight callouts, leading to their matchup at UFC 308 later that year. This shift reshaped the featherweight landscape, opening opportunities for contenders like and opening the door for Volkanovski's potential rematch. In the division, Robert Whittaker's unanimous decision win over reinserted him into title contention, positioning him as a strong candidate for a championship eliminator bout amid the division's ongoing volatility following Dricus du Plessis's reign. Whittaker expressed renewed hunger for the belt, crediting the grueling performance for restoring his momentum after prior setbacks. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili's dominant decision over propelled him to the No. 1 contender spot in , solidifying his 10-fight win streak and setting up a title challenge against Sean O'Malley at UFC 306. As of November 2025, the event's impact continued: Dvalishvili captured the title at UFC 306 and successfully defended it multiple times throughout 2025, becoming one of the division's most active champions. Topuria defended his title against Holloway at UFC 308 and at UFC 317 before vacating it in early 2025 to pursue opportunities at . Volkanovski returned to the , securing additional victories and maintaining his status as a top contender. Whittaker remained active in the division with competitive performances. The event's commercial triumph, generating a record $7.26 million gate at the , underscored its success and prompted UFC officials to schedule future cards in Anaheim, including subsequent Fight Nights that capitalized on the venue's strong fanbase. No significant controversies emerged, with medical suspensions limited to standard terms ranging from 30 to 180 days for nine fighters, primarily due to cuts and impacts rather than any unusual incidents.

References

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  3. https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/2/18/24076403/ufc-298-post-fight-bonuses-amanda-lemos-vs-mackenzie-dern-wins-fight-of-the-night
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  7. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2023/11/08/ufc-298-official-alexander-volkanovski-vs-ilia-topuria-booked-feb-17/80359233007/
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  14. https://www.foxsports.com.au/ufc/ufc-298-news-alexander-volkanovskis-big-addition-to-team-ahead-of-ilia-topuria-title-fight/news-story/7dcbb989cc961b08a148dee823f90add
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  27. https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ufc-298-start-time-alexander-volkanovski-vs-ilia-topuria-live-stream-ppv-price-tv-channel-prelims/
  28. https://www.ufcfightpass.com/
  29. https://thesportsrush.com/ufc-news-ufc-298-streaming-details-where-and-how-to-watch-alexander-volkanovski-vs-ilia-topuria-event-in-australia-spain-brazil-and-other-countries/
  30. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2024/02/13/ufc-298-commentary-team-broadcast-plans-set-michael-bisping-joins-jon-anik-joe-rogan-booth/80080408007/
  31. https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/2/9/24067733/michael-bisping-sits-in-for-daniel-cormier-for-ufc-298-broadcast-team
  32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpztB26GOlw
  33. https://www.ufc.com/video/136861
  34. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/39546351/ufc-298-live-results-analysis-alexander-volkanovski-vs-ilia-topuria
  35. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-298-anaheim-alexander-volkanovski-vs-ilia-topuria-play-by-play-live-results
  36. https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/2/18/24076363/ufc-298-results-robert-whittaker-outstrikes-paulo-costa-in-back-forth-war-to-win-unanimous-decision
  37. https://www.espn.com/mma/fightcenter/_/id/600039753/league/ufc
  38. https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/2/19/24077610/ian-machado-garry-studied-nfl-wide-receivers-to-evade-geoff-neals-power-at-ufc-298
  39. https://sports.yahoo.com/ufc-298-results-amanda-lemos-031546026.html
  40. https://www.ufc.com/news/prelim-results-highlights-winner-interviews-ufc-298-volkanovski-vs-topuria
  41. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/aeb3e4d9710207a4
  42. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/9ddaa62cc806958d
  43. https://www.si.com/fannation/mma/ufc/ufc-298-results-oban-elliott-dominates-in-ufc-debut
  44. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/1456a3f96ac7e35b
  45. https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/2/17/24076048/ufc-298-video-marcos-rogerio-de-lima-chops-down-junior-tafa-calf-kicks-for-second-round-finish
  46. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/39540387/junior-tafa-late-sub-brother-justin-tafa-ufc-298
  47. http://ufcstats.com/fight-details/ef13ed466e0b42d8
  48. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/02/ufc-298-video-danny-barlow-vs-josh-quinlan-tko-jason-herzog
  49. https://www.forbes.com/sites/trentreinsmith/2024/02/17/ufc-298-volkanovski-vs-topuriafull-fighter-pay/
  50. https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/2/18/24076069/ufc-298-salaries-ilia-topuria-alexander-volkanovski-among-13-fighters-who-cash-6-figure-purses
  51. https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-ufc-298-payouts-revealed-csac-releases-fight-purse-numbers-alexander-volkanovski-henry-cejudo-paulo-costa
  52. https://www.fightbookmma.com/ufc-298-salaries-volkanovski-vs-topuria/
  53. https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/ufc/298-volkanovski-topuria-payouts-fighters-salaries-bm05/
  54. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2024/02/18/ufc-298-salaries-13-fighters-six-figure-payouts/80070715007/
  55. https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/2/19/24077520/ufc-298-medical-suspensions-nine-fighters-potentially-out-180-days
  56. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2024/02/19/ufc-298-medical-suspensions-topuria-vs-volkanovski-whittaker-costa/80058245007/
  57. https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/alex-volkanovski/alexander-volkanovski-breaks-silence-after-ufc-298-loss-to-ilia-topuria-im-gonna-let-my-head-rest/
  58. https://www.ufc.com/news/ilia-topuria-first-ufc-champion-spain-georgia
  59. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/39549750/ufc-298-takeaways-ilia-topuria-ends-alexander-volkanovski-reign-just-predicted
  60. https://www.news.com.au/sport/boxing/rob-whittaker-is-back-in-title-contention-after-a-brutal-comeback-win/news-story/017aaa8f397c2912b9bd03b37f2b22f7
  61. https://www.si.com/fannation/mma/ufc/ex-ufc-champ-robert-whittaker-wants-rematch-old-rival
  62. https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/2/20/24077611/rankings-shakeup-is-merab-dvalishvili-the-real-no-1-bantamweight-in-the-world
  63. https://www.ufc.com/news/where-we-stand-bantamweight-division
  64. https://fansidedmma.com/posts/ufc-298-post-fight-bonus-winners-attendance-gate-information-01hpwjp1wnt3
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